What does a tick look like when engorged with human blood? - briefly
An engorged tick swells to a balloon‑like size, often reaching 5–10 mm, with a rounded, thin‑walled cuticle that appears pale gray‑blue. Its abdomen dominates the body, while the legs are short and tucked against the expanded midsection.
What does a tick look like when engorged with human blood? - in detail
An adult female tick that has completed a blood meal on a human expands dramatically. The body becomes markedly elongated, often reaching 10–12 mm in length, compared to 3–5 mm when unfed. The abdomen swells into a rounded, balloon‑like shape that dominates the overall silhouette, while the anterior capitulum (mouthparts) remains relatively unchanged.
The cuticle turns a deep, glossy reddish‑brown or mahogany hue, reflecting the hemoglobin‑rich blood within. The dorsal surface loses the distinct pattern of the unfed stage; any scutum (the hard shield) becomes obscured by the stretched skin, making the tick appear uniformly colored. Ventral plates may show a faint, translucent sheen as the cuticle thins under tension.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: Length up to 12 mm; width up to 8 mm.
- Shape: Rounded, bulbous abdomen; overall silhouette resembles a tiny, engorged grape.
- Color: Dark reddish‑brown to black, often with a glossy finish.
- Texture: Skin appears stretched, slightly translucent, with visible internal blood pools.
- Mouthparts: Still visible as a small, protruding structure at the front; unchanged in size.
These traits allow quick identification of a fed tick, distinguishing it from the flatter, lighter‑colored, and smaller unfed specimens.